This
database is a comprehensive collection of all the American idioms and slang available.
American Idioms are many and varied. We hope you enjoy our collection. We are adding more all the time.
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Quarrel with bread and butter
What does Quarrel with bread and butter mean? | Bread and butter, here, indicate the means of one’s living. (That is why we say ‘he is the bread winner of the family’). If a sub-ordinate in an organisation is quarrelsome or if he is not patient enough to bear the reprimand he deserves, gets angry and retorts or provokes the higher-up, the top man dismisses him from the job. So, he loses the job that gave him bread and butter. Hence we say, he quarrelled with bread and butter (manager or the top man) and lost his job. |
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Some Random Idioms
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beat (something) into (someone's) head
What does "beat (something) into (someone's) head" mean? | to force someone to learn something |
The teacher thinks that she must beat the material into the students' heads.
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go dutch
What does "go dutch" mean? | a date where each person pays half of the
expenses | a date where each person pays half of the expensesIn university many of the students had little money so they often went dutch when they were on a date.
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no skin off (someone's) teeth
What does "no skin off (someone's) teeth" mean? | of no interest/concern/trouble to someone | It is no skin off my teeth whether my friend come's to the restaurant with us or not.
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banger
What does "banger" mean? | sausage. | Want some bangers with that?
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all right (3)
What does "all right (3)" mean? | (3): unharmed; in satisfactory condition. | A: "You don't look normal. Are you allright?"B: "Yes, but I have a headache."
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at sixes and sevens
What does "at sixes and sevens" mean? | in a state of confusion | The workers were at sixes and sevens after the announcement that the company was going out of business.
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go the extra mile
What does "go the extra mile" mean? | to do more than one is required to do to reach a goal | I always try to go the extra mile and help my friends when they need help.
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eat like a horse
What does "eat like a horse" mean? | to eat a lot | My friend eats like a horse but he never gains any weight.
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flip one`s lid
What does "flip one`s lid" mean? | to become very excited, to lose one`s temper |
My father flipped his lid when I told him about the large telephone bill.
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take over (something) or take (something) over
What does "take over (something) or take (something) over" mean? | to take control or possession of something, to take charge or responsibility for something |
The government decided to take over the bank after it declared bankruptcy.
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chow
What does "chow" mean? | food; meal |
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carry the ball
What does "carry the ball" mean? | be in charge (from carry the ball in American
football) | be in charge (from carry the ball in American football)The director decided to let his assistant carry the ball on the assignment for the new sale's contract.
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Scream blue murder
What does "Scream blue murder" mean? | If someone shouts very loudly in anger, or fear, they scream blue murder. |
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sink into despair
What does "sink into despair" mean? | to grieve or to become depressed | The woman sank into despair when she learned that she had lost her job.
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